The Freedom I Found Living Barefoot in Puerto Rico

The Awakening of My Feet

For eight years, I have lived barefoot in Puerto Rico, feeling the earth beneath me with every step. But before that, I was a city boy—born and raised in Brooklyn, where pavement and concrete ruled. There was no real nature to walk on, no way to truly connect with the ground beneath me. Shoes were just a given, an unquestioned part of life. But something always felt off. My feet were trapped, suffocated. It wasn’t until I stripped them bare that I realized—I was meant to be free.

The Simple Life Led Me Here

At first, going barefoot was just part of simplifying my life. I had already rejected materialism, excess, and the constant cycle of overconsumption. Shoes were just another thing society told me I needed—something to buy, wear down, and throw away. I looked at my life and thought: Why am I spending money on something I don’t actually need? So I ditched them. Just like that, my feet were free.

From Self-Discipline to Freedom

On my journey, I’ve been practicing self-discipline. I decided to go barefoot and discipline my body and mind through the rigors of being barefoot. Over time, I grew accustomed to it. Then I realized—I didn’t need anything on my feet. I started enjoying the raw, wild freedom of it.

Shoes have become like shackles. And in the process of freeing my mind from the shackles of conformity, I freed my feet from the shackles of society’s norms.

Becoming One with Nature

What started as a practical choice became something much deeper. Without shoes, I felt connected in a way I never had before. Every nerve ending—over 7,000 in each foot—came alive, feeding my body with information, grounding me to the earth. I wasn’t just walking on nature—I was becoming one with it. Through my feet, I absorbed the pulse of the land. I felt the textures of dirt, sand, stone, and water. I felt alive.

When I walk barefoot, the ground becomes alive with so many different feelings, temperatures, and amazing textures. I savor the sensation of grass and earth, the wetness of muddy ground, the exfoliating roughness of rocks, even the warmth of concrete beneath my feet. These are the wonderful sensations of what it feels like to be ALIVE.

Better Posture, Better Balance

Walking with shoes hinders your natural gait and posture. I used to walk hunched over, but now I walk with my back straight. I’m more agile, more balanced. I’m like a cat ninja now. Hai ya karate!

The Strength and Agility of a Wild Human

With time, my feet transformed. They became stronger, more agile. I became lighter, more balanced. My steps grew precise, instinctive. I learned how to move with the land instead of against it—floating over jagged rocks, navigating rough terrain with ease. Barefoot, I am faster, more aware. Every step is deliberate, every movement mindful. I no longer force my way through nature—I flow with it.

My Feet Don’t Stink—Yours Might

Many assume we get fungus or smell from being barefoot, but in truth, foot fungus comes from keeping your feet trapped in sweaty shoes and socks with no air to breathe. That’s what creates the perfect habitat for bacteria to thrive. Most people who wear shoes all day end up with smelly feet. Not I—for my wonderful illustrious feet don’t stink.

Rewilding the Inner Child

Going barefoot did something deeper—it set my inner child free. Remember running barefoot as a kid? That carefree joy? That wildness? I reclaimed that. Shoes are barriers—not just between us and the earth, but between us and our own freedom. Now, every step I take is a reminder that I am alive. That I am free.

I love going on barefoot adventures, hopping and skipping through rocks with childlike delight. You can watch those joyful moments unfold on my YouTube channel where I share my wild barefoot journey.

Because I Can

It really is that simple. We live in a world where we’re expected to conform and fit in. If you break the mold, you’re labeled strange or uncivilized. But I believe in the freedom to be yourself. I’m happy living this lifestyle. And as long as I’m not harming anyone, I believe others should respect how I choose to live.

The only harm my feet might do is challenge people’s closed-off mindsets. This is how I live because it fits with who I’ve become.

The Layers I’ve Removed

My barefoot journey is just one of many layers I’ve peeled back. I’ve let go of things that no longer served me to become the truest version of myself:

• I quit drinking alcohol
• I stopped eating meat and became vegan
• I uncovered many aspects of myself I never knew existed

I realized the person I thought I was… was just a product of the environment I conformed to. I went from a concrete mindset—shaped by the concrete jungle of Brooklyn—to becoming radically wild in the lush, untamed beauty of Borikén.

Now, I’ve regained a deep connection to nature. And I believe that in losing our connection to nature, we’ve lost our connection to ourselves.

The Meaning of Being Alive

To me, walking barefoot isn’t just about shoes. It’s about reclaiming something ancient, something primal. It’s about energy flowing through my body, grounding me in every moment. It’s about feeling everything—the sun-warmed earth, the coolness of river stones, the softness of grass. It’s about connection—to the earth, to myself, to the raw experience of life.

So why do I walk barefoot? Because this is what it means to be alive.

Let Me Ask You This…

Are your feet really free? Or have they, too, been imprisoned by the norms of society? What would happen if you peeled off the layers and took one step closer to nature?

If you’re curious, start small. Step outside barefoot. Feel the earth beneath you. Then ask yourself—why did I ever stop doing this?

🌱 If you enjoyed this post and want to explore more of my radically wild journey, check out my other writings about:

👣 And don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel to follow all my barefoot adventures across Borikén—where I hop, skip, and explore with wild joy.